Chinese Elm tree named ‘BSNUPF’

ABSTRACT

A Chinese Elm tree named ‘BSNUPF’ having tight upright narrow growth, tight branches, and ornamental bark that exfoliates in patches to provide patch marks of different colors.

Latin name of genus and species: Ulmus parvifolia.

Variety denomination: ‘BSNUPF’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Ulmusparvifolia, Chinese Elm, which has been given the varietal name‘BSNUPF.’

The original tree of this new Chinese or Lace Bark Elm variety wasdiscovered by the inventor in 1994 as a chance seedling growing in acultivated area of a nursery in Monroe, Ga. This newly discovered treewas growing in a row of Chinese Elm seedlings in the nursery. This treewas transplanted to an area of the nursery where it could be observed,where it has remained since that time. The original tree is now about 11years old from a seed. The description of this new Chinese Elm varietyis based on observations of this original tree and of asexuallypropagated progeny, asexually propagated in Monroe, Ga., from softwoodcuttings and by budding. This new tree has proven to be capable ofreliable asexual propagation using vegetative propagation techniques.These asexually propagated progeny are being grown at a nursery inOconee County, Ga. Observations of the original tree, and of asexuallypropagated progeny of this new variety, have proven that the uniquecombination of characteristics of this new variety as described beloware firmly fixed.

Common Chinese Elm can grow up to two times wider than high. Oneselection that the inventor has observed, namely, Emer I (U.S. PlantPat. No. 7,551) has branches that spread as the tree grows to result ina globe-shaped tree. Seedling Chinese Elm trees often have ornamentalexfoliating bark varying from brown exfoliating shreds to multi-coloredexfoliated patches, but Chinese Elm trees with exfoliating multi-coloredpatches in combination with a tight upright narrow growth have not beenobserved by the inventor.

This new Chinese Elm tree variety is distinguished from other ChineseElm varieties known to the inventor by the following unique combinationof characteristics: its tight upright narrow growth habit, branch anglesthat remain tight from the bottom to the top of the tree; and ornamentalbark that exfoliates in patches to provide patch marks of more than onecolor.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The original tree of this new Chinese Elm variety has been successfullypropagated by softwood cuttings and by budding at my direction. Thisasexual reproduction was accomplished in Monroe, Ga. The progeny havedemonstrated that the novel characteristics of this new variety arefixed, stable, and reproduce true to type through asexual propagation.These observations confirm that ‘BSNUPF’ represents a new, distinct, andimproved variety of Chinese Elm, as particularly evidenced by thecombination of characteristics described above (tight upright growth,tight branches, and ornamental bark that exfoliates in patches to leavepatch marks of more than one color).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs illustrate this new Chinese Elm varietywith color as true as reasonable possible in this type of colorphotograph.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the original tree (foreground) of the newvariety taken in April of 2001 as the tree began to leaf out. The narrowwidth and tight branching habit of the new tree is apparent in thisphotograph. A seedling Chinese Elm tree is behind and to the right ofthe new tree and is much more spreading.

FIG. 2 is a close up photograph of the original tree of the new varietyto show the tight branches of this tree.

FIG. 3 is a close up photograph of a portion of the trunk of this treeshowing the bark exfoliating in patches.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

This invention has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in growingenvironment, such as temperature, light intensity, day length, rainfall,or nutrient availability, without, however, any variation in genotype.‘BSNUPF’ Chinese Elm is currently growing at a nursery in Monroe, Ga.

The following is a detailed description of my new variety of Chinese Elmwith color terminology in accordance with The Royal HorticulturalSociety (R.H.S.) Colour Chart published by The Royal HorticulturalSociety in London, England. This description is based on observations ofthe original tree growing at a nursery site in Monroe, Ga.

-   Parentage: Discovered as a chance seedling of unknown origin growing    in a cultivated area of a nursery in Monroe, Ga.-   Tree shape: Upright tight narrow with narrow crotch angles. As    branches extend with age, the angle of the branch (in relation to    the trunk) has not been observed to widen, rather it remains tight.    The branches had no noticeable weeping with age over the period of    observation.-   Size and growth rate: The original tree at nine years of age was    18.5 cm in caliper at 0.3 m above the ground, about 8 m high, and    about 2 m wide, thus providing an overall height to width ration of    about 4.0. The 185 cm caliper growth over a nine year observation    period computes to an average growth in caliper of the original tree    of about 2.0 cm per year. The growth rate in height of the tree has    been rapid, at slightly less than 1 m per year on average over a    nine year observation period.-   Trunk: Bark is ornamental, exfoliating in camouflage-like patterns    of medium to darker and pale gray (RHS Greyed-Green Group 198A,    198C, 197C and 197D) and with the deepest parts of the patterns a    bright flesh to orange color (RHS Greyed-Orange Group 173D). On the    inside of the exfoliating patches is the same flesh to orange color    that is revealed by their curling away from the trunk and vacating    the bark. As Ulmus parvifolia tress with ornamental bark mature,    this feature continues to increase in aesthetic quality (See FIG.    3).-   Branching habit: Branching angle is tight and branches stay tight    from the bottom to the top of the tree. Taking a typical simple    branch and traveling 117 cm up the length of the branch, the branch    was only 28 cm from the trunk. Traveling a length of 244 cm up the    length of the branch from the trunk, the branch was 51 cm from the    trunk, still remarkably tight. Typical branch angle (included angle)    from trunk of tree to branch ranges from about ten degrees to about    twenty degrees.-   Branches:    -   -   Exemplary diameter.—1.5 mm diameter, 2.50 cm below end bud.        -   Surface.—New growth, medium bright green (RHS Yellow-Green            Group 144B) and pubescent with clear hairs; second year,            dark flat brown (RHS Grey-Brown Group 199A).        -   Pith.—Solid, uniform.        -   Leaf scar.—Crescent to oval shaped, three bundle traces,            typical 2 mm high, 1 mm wide.        -   Lenticels.—Orange (RHS Greyed-Orange Group 168A) lenticels            on trunk and stems, oriented vertically.        -   Odor.—None.-   Leaves:    -   -   General.—Deciduous, simple, arranged alternately.        -   Shape.—Elliptic to ovate.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Base.—Oblique.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Surface.—Flat dark green, coriaceous, 12 pinnate vein pairs.        -   Typical length and width.—5 cm long, 2.4 cm wide.        -   Color.—Summer: Upper Surface: Flat dark green (RHS            Yellow-Green Group 147A). Underside: Flat medium green (RHS            Yellow-Green Group 147B). New Leaves: Upper Surface: Bright            medium green (RHS Yellow-Green Group 144A). Underside: Flat            medium green (RHS Yellow-Green Group 146D). Fall Color: Dull            brown (RHS Brown Group 200C) blended with dull yellow (RHS            Greyed-Yellow Group 160A) and washed-out green (RHS            Yellow-Green Group 146C).        -   Petiole.—Typically six mm long, rounded, rose (RHS            Red-Purple Group 70B) on upperside, pale green (RHS            Yellow-Green Group 145A) on underside, entire petiole            pubescent with clear hairs.-   Buds:    -   -   Flower buds.—Lateral and auxiliary, conical, typically 1 mm            high and 1 mm wide, brown (RHS Brown Group 200D), angled            toward the trunk, scales imbricate, five scales, with clear            thread-like hairs around the margin of each scale.        -   Vegetative buds.—Lateral, oval, typical 1.5 mm high and 1.5            mm wide, brown (RHS Brown Group 200D), scales imbricate,            three scales, with clear thread-like hairs around the margin            of each scale.-   Flowers:    -   -   Overall description.—Inconspicuous, typical flower is 3 mm            high, 2 mm wide, perfect, 4 stamens, 1 pistil, 4 petals,            born in fascicles of 4 to 5.        -   Petals.—4 each typically 1.5 mm high and 1 mm wide, acute            apex, entire margin, smooth texture, upper and lower            surfaces are rose (RHS Red-Purple Group 65C) aging to taupe            (RHS Greyed-Orange Group 164C) then to medium brown (RHS            Greyed-Orange Group 164A).        -   Stamens.—Filaments are typically 2.5 mm high and 0.5 mm            wide, pale flesh-colored (RHS Orange-White Group 159C),            anthers are typically 1 mm high and 1 mm wide, colored            fleshy red (RHS Greyed-Red Group 179B) turning brown (RHS            Brown Group 200C).        -   Pistil.—Typical 2 mm high and 1 mm wide, colored a light,            but bright green (RHS Green Group 141D).        -   Peduncle.—Typical 2 mm high and 0.5 mm wide, colored pale            green (RHS Yellow-Green Group 145C).        -   Pollen.—Typical size of 225 grains per square millimeter,            colored pale yellow (RHS Green-Yellow Group 1D).        -   Season.—Early September in Monroe, Ga., Zone 7b.        -   Fragrance.—None.-   Fruit:    -   -   Type.—Samara, flat, ovate to obovate, containing one flat            seed.        -   Color.—Green (RHS Green Group 137A) aging to brown (RHS            Greyed-Orange Group 165B).        -   Size.—Typically, 8 mm long, 6 mm wide, 1 mm thick.        -   Season.—Late September through October in Monroe, Ga., Zone            7b.-   Disease and pest resistance: Highly resistant to Dutch Elm Disease    and Elm Leaf Beetle damage. There have been no symptoms of scorch in    drought years. The tree has proven resistant to wind and ice damage.-   Winter hardiness: Not yet determined, due to only being grown and    observed in Monroe, Ga. (USDA Zone 7b).

1. A new and distinct variety of Chinese Elm tree named ‘BSNUPF,’substantially as herein illustrated and described, characterizedparticularly as to novelty by its tight upright narrow growth, tightbranches, and ornamental bark that exfoliates in patches to providepatch marks of different colors.